San Francisco Giants

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Jeff Samardzija yielded four hits and four runs (three earned) over 4 2/3 innings Wednesday in the Giants’ loss to the Astros.

He handed out five free passes in addition to his three strikeouts. Samardzija didn’t allow a hit until the third inning when he gave up an infield single to George Springer. Springer got to him again in the fifth, this time taking Samardzija deep for a two-run homer. Samardzija’s command was an issue all day as the right-hander threw just 51 of his 97 pitches for strikes. Wednesday extended Samardzija’s winless streak to six starts. He’ll take an ugly 6.23 ERA into his next outing Tuesday at hitter-friendly Coors Field in Colorado.

Gorkys Hernandez picked up two hits and scored the Giants’ only run Wednesday in a loss to Houston.

Hernandez led off the fourth with a triple to deep center and scored later in the inning on a sac fly by Buster Posey. He added another single in the eighth for his second hit of the day. The 30-year-old has hit a respectable .287 this year while platooning with Gregor Blanco in left field.

And possibly as early as Friday. Williamson is 5-for-15 (.333) with two home runs and six RBI through four rehab games with Triple-A Sacramento and should resume seeing regular starts in the San Francisco outfield. He's been on the concussion disabled list since April 28.

Hunter Pence (thumb) hit a grand slam in a rehab game Tuesday with Triple-A Sacramento.

He also had an RBI single, driving in five total runs on the night. Pence has made some mechanical adjustments to his swing while on the disabled list with a right thumb sprain and he is suddenly batting .319 over 76 total plate appearances at the Triple-A level. The 35-year-old outfielder should be activated by the Giants within the next several days.

Brandon Crawford slugged his fifth home run as the Giants were crushed by the Astros on Tuesday evening in Houston.

Crawford's two-run shot off of Gerrit Cole in the fifth inning would prove to be the Giants' only offense in the ballgame. Crawford also singled (and was caught stealing) in the game, finishing the night 2-for-3. He has been on an absolute tear at the plate as of late and is now hitting .309/.343/.473 with five homers and 21 RBI. Fantasy owners that are lacking production from the middle infield spot may want to look Crawford's way.

Andrew Suarez was hit hard in Tuesday's loss to the Astros, giving up five runs on seven hits over four innings.

Suarez also issued a pair of walks in this one while striking out only two. The Astros broke the game open with three runs against him in the third inning, then tacked on another pair in the fourth. It marked the second straight rough outing for the right-hander who now owns a troublesome 5.68 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. Should he be afforded another trip through the rotation, he'll take on the Rockies at Coors Field on Monday. He shouldn't be anywhere near any fantasy lineups for that outing.

Joe Panik took on-field batting practice Tuesday for the first time since landing on the disabled list April 28 with a torn UCL in his left thumb.

Panik told reporters afterward that he had no limitations with his swing and was able to grip the bat strongly and freely while poking balls to all parts of the field. The second baseman could be about a week away from beginning a minor league rehab assignment.

Madison Bumgarner (finger) threw a successful simulated game on Tuesday.

As long as he responds well to the workout, the ace left-hander should be cleared to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Sacramento. He's expected to make around three rehab starts before joining the Giants' rotation around the middle of June. Bumgarner has been out all year with a fractured left pinkie.

Brandon Belt swatted a go-ahead, three-run home run in the seventh inning to propel the Giants to a 9-5 win over the Rockies on Sunday.

In a 5-5 game in the seventh inning, Belt stepped to the dish with two on and lefty Jake McGee on the bump for the Rox. Belt delivered, as he has often this year, knocking a three-run jack over the right field wall to give the Giants the late lead. The first baseman has surprisingly been one of the best hitters in the National League this year, batting .313/.413/.594 with 11 homers, 29 RBI and 28 runs scored. He's been especially dangerous in the past week, recording six multi-hit games since last Sunday. Few are locked in like he is right now.

Gorkys Hernandez went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in a win over the Rockies on Sunday.

Hernandez muscled up in the fifth inning, lifting a fly ball to center field that just kept carrying and eluded a leaping Charlie Blackmon for the two-run shot. The laser show from Gorkys has been a surprise, as Sunday's homer was his fourth this year after he entered the year with five total homers in 232 career games. The 30-year-old has been a pleasant offensive surprise all around for the Giants this year, batting .279/.308/.430 while hitting leadoff at points for the club.

Ty Blach lasted just 4 1/3 innings Sunday, allowing eight hits and four runs in a no-decision against the Rockies.

Blach has been getting by on the back of one of the league's best ground ball rates, a skill that abandoned him Sunday as the Rockies made just three outs on the ground before he exited. Fortunately for him, AT&T Park is spacious enough that the fly balls didn't hurt him as much as they could have on a day when he just didn't have it. Blach didn't factor in the decision, remaining 3-4 with a 4.37 ERA and 1.49 WHIP through 11 starts this year. He'll draw a tough Cubs team in Wrigley Field on Sunday.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that Jake Peavy is still hopeful of returning to the big leagues this season.

The 36-year-old hurler said that he'll make a decision within the next three weeks, but wanted to consult with his children first. Peavy elaborated, "I feel that I can help a team in the second half. My arm feels great. I’ve had a chance to rest it so I feel as strong as I’ve felt in a long time. I’ve kept in shape. I throw bullpens. So I’m hoping that once I make the decision to do it, that the interest will be there." Even if he is able to succeed in his comeback attempt, it's unlikely that he'll be relevant from a fantasy perspective.